Komura, The British Alliance And The Russo-Japanese War

10.1163/ej.9781905246199.i-348.18

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Chapter Summary

This chapter demonstrates the role of Komura Jutarō, Japan's foreign minister, who was one of the originators of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and the guiding hand behind the Russo-Japanese War. Prime Minister Katsura in February 1905 told the British minister, that he had fixed up the Anglo-Japanese Alliance with Itō in June 1901 just before he took up office as prime minister in the following month. When Minister Hayashi signed the British alliance on 30 January, it was Komura who was its architect along with Itō, Katsura and Hayashi. Komura was determined to exploit Japan's improved position by opening negotiations with Russia in protest against the Russo-Chinese convention over Manchuria and Russia's failure to fulfil her undertakings. After Japan's success in the battle of Mukden, Komura followed a twin strategy. His search for peace with Russia had to proceed in parallel with the negotiation of the second alliance with Britain.